Manuel Ortega escapes to victory - the first of his journeyman professional career.

Spanish rider Manuel Ortega (Andalucia-Cajasur) has clinched the opening stage of the GP Paredes Rota dos Móveis in Portugal. He did it in the best possible style too, crossing the line solo. After an early break had been absorbed, Ortega attacked with António Mindlin (Caixanova). Leaving his companion for dead on the day's final obstacle, the Alto de Estibadas, thirteen kilometres from the finish, Ortega kept on pushing. He crossed the line in Verin for a maiden professional victory, six seconds clear of the sprinting bunch, led in by veteran Portuguese star Candido Barbosa (Palmeiras-Resort) and Edgar Pinto (Liberty Seguros).

On the 163.9km route from Lugo to Verin, the day's key break slipped away inside, late on, inside the last two hours of racing. It consisted of six riders: Miguel Candil (Fercase), Jesus Rodendo (Andalucia-Cajasur), Gustavo Rodriguez (Artesania), ex-Euskaltel man Dionisio Galparsoro (Contenpolis) and Boyaca duo David Belda and Wilson Cepeda. While Candil crested the top of two Cat 3 climbs to take the Mountains jersey, the group were caught with 25 kilometres to go, allowing Mindlin and Ortega to counter-attack succesfully.

The first professional win has been a while in coming for Manuel Ortega. He has raced at Andalucia since signing paid terms in 2006, finishing two Vuelta a Espanas, but he has never come close to the podium. Ortega's best result prior to today's triumph was ninth overall in last July's Vuelta a la Comunidad de Madrid. Undoubtedly then, this solo win is one to savour.